Counter-molding machine



.Sept 28 ,41926. A1,600,967

A'. E. AYER COUNTER AIvfoLDNG MACHINE Filed Sept. 27. 1924Y 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 28 '1926.-

A. E. AYER COUNTER- MOLDING MACHINE .Filed Sept. 2'7.

1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 l MM@ Sept. 2s- ,V 1926.

A. E. AYER COUNTER MOLDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 27. 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 s616628 1926, 1,600,961 A. E. AYER COUNTER MOLDI NG MACHINE Filed Sep. 2'7, 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 sept. 2s, 192s. 1,600,967

A. E. AYER COUNTER MOLDING MACHINE sept. 2s, 1926. "1,600,967

A. E. AYER COUNTER NOLDING MACHINE F1166 sept. 27, 1924 6 sheets-sheet 6 Patented Sept. 28, 1926.

entre stares earner ALBERT n. AYER, nncEAsn-n-7 LATE or. wrNTnao-r, MAssAonUsnTTs; BY MARY A. AYER, AnMmsTnATnIX, or WiNTMaor; MAssAcnnsnTTs, AssreNon To JOHN HAMMOND STEWART, or LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

COUNTER-HOLDING MACHINE.

Application filed September 27, 1924. Serial No. 740,40D.

The present invention relates to machines for moldingr counters for footwear and has particular reference to machines of this character inwhich the counterA blanks, having irst been placed by the operator in an automatic feeder, are automatically transferred by such feeder to the molding instrir ments; and in which the molded counters are automatically removed by a stripper.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide improved mechanisms for carrying out and performing the operations of feeding, molding and strip Jing the count ers; and further, to provice set of con trols by which the different mechanisms of the machine may be put into automaticop- Aeration and continued interdependently in such operation. p n

`The invention consists in the mechanisms, means and combina-tions by which the foregoing objects, and secondary objects related thereto, are put into effect, as described in the following Aspecication in' connection with the drawings, and in all substantial equivalents vof the mechanisms so particularly described..

ln the drawings:

Figure l is a front elevation of the preferred form of machine embodying the invention; p

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine as seen from the left of Fig. l;

3 is a side elevation of the machine as seen from the right of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan of the machine shown on a larger scale than that of the preceding ligure, the plane of section being indicated by line 4 4 of Fig. l;

5 is a plan view of the auton'iatic feeder; y

ig. 6 is a side elevation `of the feeder, a portion of the frame thereof being shown in cross section; A c c Y 7 is ar front elevation of the feeder; 8 is adetailview showing the inner member of the molding instruments in elevations, with the feeder and other aoco:- sory parts'in operative cooperation therewith prior to the molding action;

Fig. 9 is a Vview showing the lll-l member` in position for removal of the molded counter;

Like reference characters designate the sameparts wherever they occur in all the figures. Y

The frame of the machine comprises a massive and rigid main body ll, preferably formed as a metal casting, with wings l2 and 13 between which are contained cert-ain of the operating parts as will be presently described. A cross beam 14 is placed across the upper partof the frame body and is secured by tie rods l5 and 16.

The molding instruments comprise two outer mold members 17-18, usually called molds, van inner member 19, usually called a last, and a pressure or. wiper 2O.r These parts will hereinafter be called by their usual terms as above indicated. The function of the molds is to shape the counter blank and grip it firmly on the outside of thelast with `its edge projecting forwardly, and the function of the Wiper is to travel across the projecting edge and turn it over against the front face of the last, forming a flange. The molds are mounted with provision for se oaration and for closing against the lastJ in t ie manner usual in this art, for instance. that shown in the patents to Stewart No. 467,478, dated January 19, 1892 and No. 826,597 dated July 24, 1906. The last is mounted on a last carrier 2l which is movable up and down for the purpose of forcing the heel end of the counter firmly against the inner end ofthe mold recess; and the last carrier also carries spring supported wipers 22 and 23 which then bear on the outer parts ofl the molds and crowd them forcibly against the sides .of the last to grip the wings of the interposed counter. The wiper travels in guides 24-25 secured to the beam 14, and is connected `by a link 2G with an arm 27 on a shaft 28 which is held in a bracket 29 on theA top of the frame, and is oscillated by a secondy arm 30 and a connecting rod 3l which latter is connected with a crank 32 on' a. shaft 33. Up and' down? mot-ion is given to the last carrier 2l by a lever 34 pivoted between the 'wings of the frame body on a,- rod 35v and Gil connected to the carrier by a pin The carrier is provided with arms or wings 3T near its opposite ends which are connected to the traine body by links 3S pa alle-l to the common plane of the pivots and 256 and substantiallyv equivalent length to the distance between said pivots, whereby it is guided and maintained in upright position. Said lever Si is oscillated by an arm 39 on the shaft 33, which arm is pivotal to a shoe a() mounted to slide on guide ribs Lll on the lever between stops 4Q and 43. Said arm 39 trictionally grips an eccentric iL-l.- on shaft 33 and is carried during a part of each rotation of said shaft from trie position shown in Figure 2 to a. position in which the shoe l0 abuts against the stop 3 and the arm 39 is then approximately perpendicular to the depending arm ot the lever. The last is then raised7 and the turther movement of the shaft causes ther eccentric to exert a powerful direct pressure upon the lever through a heavy spring et?) which forms a part of arm 39. A. spring;` -Lltlreturns the arm 39 to the raised position when this pressure is relaxed.

As thus far described the machine is not essentially different from counter molding machines already known and described in prior patents, to which reference may he had tor a more detailed description of all corresponding` features.

The counter blanks are placed by t-he operator in a feeder. and by the latter are transferred to the molding' instruments. Said feeder comprises a plate or table. '-l haring' outer clamps 48-19 and inner clamps :BO-51 arranged to hold between them the counter blank after it has been bent by the operator into t-he required t'orm. The outer clamps are pivoted by studs and 53 respectively to the table and are toi-med with arms -l which project respectively beyond the opposite side edges ot the table and have cam or wedge surfaces wnereby said clamps are moved outwardly by inst-runientalities later described. Springs :35 and 5.7 are connected to the respective clamps and to the table beneath the latter, being` attached at. one end to a pin 5S dcpending from the clamp and at the other end to an eye 59 secured to the table. as shown best in Figure 7. rihese springs tend to draw the outer clamps inwardly` the movement being;- limited by the extensions odi-O which are rigidly secured to the arms The inner clainps .30 and 5l are pivoted by screws 60 and Gl respectively to slides 62 and G3 which occupy an undercut transverse guideway in the plate and are clamped, with provision tor in and out adjustment, by means of screws 6l and 65 passing through slots 66 in sait. slides and threaded into the table. The inner surfaces et the outer clamps conform as to their rear portions approximatelyv to the curve of the counter blank, but as to their forward portions are inclined outwardly to guide the wings ot the counter blank into the spaces between the coojierating clamps. rl`he outer surfaces ot the inner clamps contorni to the curved inside of the counter. rl`hese latter clamps do not extend so tar to the rear as the outer clamps but. are provided with tlexible spring strips 6T which extend substantially to the rear terminations ot the outer clamps and the function ol. which is to insure that the wings ol' the counter blank will be tar enough separated to pass over the molding last. In effect these springs arc parts of the inner clamps and constitute resilient yielding` rear terminals ot such clamps. This construction of the inner clamps enables them to conform the counter blank to the outer clamps. and at the same time to `:grip the blank lirmly enough under i'litiiereut conditions ot adjustment.

.ft 68 is mounted on the feed table to determine the placing ot the blank longitih dinally oit the clamps. This gage is conveniently formed by the turned up edge ot a plate G9 which is adjustably secured to the table by screws TO passing through slots Tl in said plate. rThis gage and the clamps extend above the surface ot the table only iar enough to grip that edge of the counter blank which is bent over to AForm the flange; wherefore when the blank is `grasped by the feeder. that portion ot it which is to be compressed between the. mold members wholly clear of the teeder clamps and is 'free to enter between the mold members.

The feed table above described is adjustably mounted on a Yfeeder carrier. which feeder carrier consists ot a bar having rearwardly extending` arms T3 at its ends and a forwardly projectingr stud Tels at its middle. A. block T5 tits it'reely on said stnd is adapted to he adjusted lengthwise thereon and singularly about the axis ol. the stud and to he secured in position by set and screws io. The Yteed table i lies over tirs block and is provided with wines TT which embrace the ends ot the block and are pivoted thereto by a pin T8. The top ot the block is conrcx so to permit rocking' movement ot' the table about the pivot pin ,frdjustin screws if) are mounted in the ttnviard and rear jjiortions ot flanges St) which project aty opposite sides ot the block 'T5 and these screws bear against the wings Fi" and serve to adjust thc table part cular angle which will bring its support'. e; surface to the desired ar.- i the moidina' members when delir- T' the blank to the latter. The stud i' .feral ly mounted detachably in a socket in the feeder carrier bar T2 and is secured therein by a set screw Sl.

The feeder carrier is mounted in a mannerpermitting its adjustment up. and Y down, or inother wor-ds,- in that direction which will place itsclamps in al desired position longitudinally of the molding last when deliverinto;v the blank. rlherefor-e the arms 73 of the feeder carrier are secured to shafts 82 which are rotatably mounted in the rearwardly projecting arms of levers 88, which levers arepivoted by means of shafts or rods 84 in arms 85 rising froml the opposite ends of a. bracket 86 secured to the molding last carrier 21. Each ofthe levers 83 has an arm 8T through which an adjusting set screw 88 passes to bear againstan abutment 89 on the adjacentsupport-ing: arm 85. Springs 90v connected to the rearward arms of said levers and to fixed brackets 91v onthe frame tend to raise. th'ese arms and to press t-he adjusting screws 88 against their abutments 89. Adjustment limitsl for the said levers are provided by stop screws 92 held in fixed brackets 93 on the tie rods 15 and 16 and arranged over theV rearward arms of said levers.

It will now be apparent that by appropriately adjusting the set screwsy 88,' the pivots 89 for the feeder carrier may be raised andi lowered.

The feeder-is oscilla'ted tok carry blanks to the molding members and return, by means of a cam 9st on a cam shaft 95, which cam has a groove 96I receiving a stud or rol-l on a bell crank lever 97' which is pivoted to the frame and has a depending arm 99 connected by means of apitman 100 with an arm 101 whichis mountedto turn freely on one of the pivot shafts-82 ofthe feeder .arrier and is connected with a segment or disk 102. Another arm 108k is connected rigidly with the same pivot shaft 82 and carries a latch 104;,which occupies, and is removable from, a notch in the side of disk 102. 4f). Any suitable means for normally retaining said latch insaid notch, and means for withdrawing the latch when desired, may be. used.

The. shaft 82 at the opposite end of the feeder carrier from that to which the arm 103 is connected projectsv outward and is surrounded by a spring 105, one end ofwhich bearsy against a collar 106 andy the other bears on an abutment on the hub ofZ the adjacent adjusting.v lever 821-,.-871 This` spring tends to raise the feeder. and thus "1' partly counter-balances its weight, relieving the operating mechanism. previously described, of part of the work required to,V raise the feeder.

`il/Then the feeder:` is inits lowered posi` tion, the4V position which it holds most-of the.f

time and'in which-it receives-the. counter.

biank from the operator, its outer clamps are'separated by the action. of theY arms 10T nected to ther frame and to the link 112 and serves to hold the roll against its cam. The: effect of the cam 116 is to swing the arms 10? and-108 forward after the feeder has returned from transferring a bla-nk tofthe molds and thereby to separate the outer blank-holding clamps it-e9 from the inner clamps fora long enough` time to permit the voperator to place a blank be- -tween the clamps.

Duringthe molding action the molding last is in theY same plane with the molds 17V and 18, but after molding, it is tilted' forward out of this plane beside the path of the stripper so that thev molded counter may be picked up and carried away by the latter. Referring to Figures 8 andl 9, it will be seen that the last is pivotedl at its lower end by means of a pivot pin 120 to a pedestal or base block 1:21 secured to the lastcarrier 21. The pedestal has anv eX- tended wide supporting surface against which the bottom of the last is normally held by a spring 122 in the plane of thel complemental molds; such spring being a leaf' spring secured at one end to the base and bearing at its other endagainst the last as shown in Figures 8 and 9. 123` is a. rigid reinforcing abutment for the spring. An arm 121 is mountedy behind the last onl the rock shaft 125 and carriesV a finger' 126, formed; from a bent rod secured in a recess in arm 121 by a set screw 127. The rock shaft 125 carries an arm 128 at the lefthand side of the machine, and t0 the latterV arm is connected a rod 129 arranged to slide through an eye 130 in one arm of the bell crank lever 131, the other arm 132 of which carries a roll or stud which occupies a cam groove133 in a cam disk 134. The connecting rordf129; carries an abutment 1535l at the rear of the eye 130, and carries a helical spring 136 in front of this eye, such spring being confined between the eye and an adjustable abutment 137 on the rod'. rl`he cam groove 133 has a single jog which is; timed to swing the last-displacing fingery 126: forwardly after the counter has been molded and the last carrier hasdescended. This impulse. isi-imparted tothe linger in ayielding manner through the spring 136 and aga-inst the, yielding resistance of thev spr-ing' 122, these springs; beingl of suoli strength that, whileV theyso .ca-use and per-- mit-fthe last to s wjingforward across the path ot thestripper, yet the.; spring 136:

yields when the face of the last comes into contact with t-he stripper, and so avoids bending or breaking the latter.

The stripper is formed of an arm 138 and a. head 130 on the end thereof. such head carrying an angle piece 1st() which terminates in a` point adapted to bear on the outer .face of the last and pass between such face and the flange of the counter at the heel end of the latter. Head 189 also carries ay cross pin 1111 which lies across the wings of the counter and prevents it from slipping forward when the counterv is first picked off from the last.

The rod or shank 138 of the stripper is secured adjustably in a block 112, which in turn is clamped adjustably on an inclined shaft. 1t?) which turns in a bearing sleeve 11st secured to the frame by a bracket 1st-5f The inclination of this shaft, together with the adjustment of the stripper shank, causes the stripper to swing in a path far enough in front of the flange presser and its driving rod to clear the latter, but near enough to the last to bring the stripper in contact with the front face thereof when the last is tilte-d forward. Oscillation of the stripper between a position thus adjacent to the last and one far enough at the left of the machine to cause it to drop the counter is imparted by a cam groove 116 in a cam 14.7, such groove receiving a stud or roll on a lever 148 which is pivoted at 1-19 on the frame. Lever 118 is connected by a link or connecting rod 150 with a gear segi'nent 151, and said gear segment meshes with a pinion 152 on the stripper shaft 113. The cam groove 116 is properly designed and timed to place the stripper before the last has been tilted forward, but after the feeder has been returned to normal position following its feeding stroke, and then, after the last has been tilted forward, to carry the stripper away to its dischargingr position. All of the cams hereinbefore mentioned are secured to the saine cam shaft- 95, on which there is secured also a gear 153 and a cam 15J-t. Gear 153 meshes with a pinion 155 on a shaft 156. A sprocket wheel 157 is loosely mounted on shaft 156 and is adapted to be connected to stud shaft by means of a clutch under control of a manuallyT operated lever 159 which is pivoted to a. stud 160 on a bracket 161 projecting to the rear of the machine as shown in Figure 3, the clutch here used may be any one of a number of well-known forms of clutch, for instance a collar splined on the shaft and having a tooth or equivalent abutment adapted to be br ught into or out of the path of a complemental tooth or abutment on the hub of the sprocket wheel under control of the lever'159, with or without the aid of a spring. I have not illustrated the clutch here since clutches suitable for the purpose are well-known to those Skilled in the art.

Sprocket wheel 157 is coupled by a chain 162 with a sprocket wheel 163 on a pulley shaft 16.-.- on which is mounted a fast pulley and a loose pulley 166. A belt shipper 167 is movable by a manually operable arm 168 on a rock shaft 169, to which shaft is connected a second arm 170 which is connected also with the shipper.

Shaft 161 carries a gear pinion 171 in mesh with a large gear 172 on the crank shaft 38 previously described. Said gear 172 is loose on the shaft and carries one member of a ratchet clutch 173, the complemental member of which is secured to the shaftl il?, and is controlled by the arm 171 of a bell crank lever which is piroted at 175 to the iachine frame and has a second arm 176 provided with an inclined wedge surface 177. This bell crank lever is connected by a link 178 with a treadle 179 pivoted to frame at 180. An upright lever is pivoted in a bracket 181 and has an arm which bears on the cam 151, and a. second arm 189i which bears on the wedge surface 177.

Vhen treadle 179 is pressed upon, the arm 171 raised so as to cause coupling` of the clutch which connects gear 172 to the crank shaft 38. The outthrust of cam 154. on lever arm 182 causes the arm 183 of the same lever to act on the wedge surface 177. llfhen the treadle is left free, and at the same time the low part of cam 151 releases the lever 182-183, the control lever 171-176 is caused by a spring 186 (which is connected to treadle 179 and to a fixed anchor pin) to assume the position shown in Figure i), wherein it uncouples the crank shaft clutch and causes this shaft to be brought to rest. A clutch-coupling and stop mechanism of a character well-known in the art is used for this purpose and is therefore notherein shown or described in detail.

The part designated 185 is a table convenient to the operators hands on which may be placed the blanks to be molded. 1n order to start the machine, assuming that it is wholly at rest, the operator by means of the shipper handle 168 shifts the belt from the loose to the fast pulley. This sets in motion the gear wheel 172 and the sprocket wheel 157, but does not start either the crank shaft 93 or the cam shaft 95, the clutches for driving these shafts being disconnected. Then b v moving the lever 159 in the proper direction, the operator causes the clutch between the sprocket wheel 157 and shaft 156 to be connectefl-` thus setting the cam shaft and the cams thereon in rotation. At this time the low part of cam 154 is beside the roll or stud on lever arm 182, because the stop mechanism is organized to disconnect the clutch and stop the moving parts when said cam is in that position. When the high part of cam 154 arrives beside the arm 182, it displaces this arm and causes the other arm 183 of the same lever to shift the bell crank 176-174, by pressing against the inclined wedge surface 177 thus causing the clutch between shaft 33 and gear 172 to be connected and setting said shaft in rotation. Cam 154 is properly positioned to cause shaft 33 thusY to be set in rotation at such a time as will cause the movements given by this shaft to take place in proper timing with the movements of the other parts which are controlled by the cams on cam shaft 95.

The speed ratio between the pulley shaft 164 and the cam shaft 95 is one-half the value Vof the speed rat-io between shaft 164 and crank shaft 33; in other words the crank shaft is driven at twice the speed of the cam shaft. rThus themolding members and theflange presser make twocycles of operation while the mechanisms driven from the cam shaft make one cycle. The operator picks up the counter blanks one by one, bends them into the approximate outline of the molded counter and, when the feeder is in the lowered position and the clamps thereon are open, places the 'blank with its opposite wings between the opposite pair of cooperating clamps 48-50 and 49-51 respectively, and the tips of such wings against the gage 68. l/liithdrawal of the clamp-opening arms 107 and 108, accomplished by the spring 117 under control of cam 116, allows the clamps to gripi the counter bla-nk, and then the feeder is caused by the cam 94 to move into the position shown in Figure 8, placing the counter blank over the moldinglast 19, and between the molds 17 and18, at a time when these moles are separated and the last is lowered, withdrawing immediatelyafterward and leaving the blank gripped between the molding members, which have been brought. together in themeantime. After the feeder arrives in its lowered position, the clampspreading arms are swung forward to open the outer clamps, and they remain so until shortly before the feeder makes its next trip, giving ample time for the operator to place a blank between the clamps.

After the flange presser has made its first travel the last and outer molds are relaxed f and aoain forced toOether to mold the counlowered and swung forward, and the stripper is operated to. remove the molded counter.

Finally, upon completionof the cycle of the. camshaft, the low part of cam 154 allows thelever arm 182 to recede,- freeing the bell crank lever 17 6-174, and allowing the arm 174 to be put into position for stop-v ping the crank shaft under the impulsion of a spring 186 which raises the treadle 179, unless the operator continues to press on said. treadle. But the operator wishes the machine to keep in action continuously without stopping', he may cause it to do so by holdthe treadle depressed.

Descending movement of the molding last is effected by backward movement of the lower end of the last carrier lever 34, which in turn is effected by upward movement of the arm 39, and is arrested by slide 40 arriving at the stop 42. In order that the arm and slide may not bound back after being thus arrested, two friction grippers 187 are mounted, one on either side of the uppermost position of the slide 40, as shown in Figure 1, and are adjusted soV asto bear against the opposite sides of the slide. Each of these members is loosely connected to the adjacent'wing (12 or 13) of the frame by a bolt 188 and is adjusted so as to bea-r with greater or less pressure on the slide by means of an abutment screw 189 threaded into said wing and the end of which enters a socket in the adjacent side of the brake member.

`What 1 claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A counter molding` machine comprisingin combination with molding instrumentalities and a feeder for carrying counter blanks. to said instrumentalities, inner and outerl clamps mounted on said feeder arranged to Orip the wings of a counter blank when in ent formation, and vautomatic mechanism for separating said outer clamps from the inner yclamps when the feeder is in blankreceiving position,

- 2. In a'counter molding machine, a counter blank feeder comprising a support, inner blank holding clamps mounted on said support in a normally stationary position with provision for being set in positions at different distances from one another and also being pivotally mounted between their ends, and outer clamps each-complemental to one of the inner clamps pivoted to the support adjacent to one end and being movableabout their pivots away from the adjacent inner clamps.

3. In a counter molding machine a counter' blank feeder comprising a table, oi clamps pivoted over the supporting surfa n. ofsaid table adjacent to their forward enc... springs arranged to act on said clamps with tendency to move their rear ends inward, and inner clamps pivotaily mounted on the table in a mannerpermitting them to'fcon-v form to the positions of the outer clamps.

4. 1n a counter molding machine a counter blank feeder comprising. a supporting table, outer clamps veach-piiff'oted adjacent to one of itsends' to the table and having inner clamping surfaces approximating the aan curvature of the cuter sides of the wings of a molded counter, springs acting on sai-d clamps tending to move their non-pivote'tl ends inwardly, inner clamps complemental respectively to the outer clamps and mounted on the table, and means for shifting said inner clamps to 'conform with wider or narrower counters.

In a counter molding machine a counter blank feeder comprising a support, laterally adjustable and pivotally mounted inner clamps for holding the wings of a bent connter blank, and pivotally mounted outer clamps cooperating with said inner clamps to grip the wings of such bent blank, the outer clamps being pivoted adjacent to one end and the inner clamps being pivoted between their ends and having fiexible terminal sections adjacent to the ends of the outer clamps remote from the pivots of the latter.

6. In a counter molding machine as set forth in claim l outwardly extending arms on said outer clamps, the mechanism for moving the said clamps outwardly compris` ing displacer members arranged to contact with said arms when the feeder is in blank receiving position and an operating mechanism for said displacer members.

7. In a counter molding machine an oscillatively mounted feeder including inner and outer blank holding clamps, the outer clamps of which are movable inwardly and have outwardly extending arms, movably mounted displacer members arranged in a location which causes them to lie beside the said clamp arms when the feeder is in one of its positions, and mechanism for moving said displacer members at such times, the displacer members and clamp arms having complemental wedge portions arranged to cause out-ward movement of the clamps in consequence of said movements of the displacer members.

8. In a counter molding machine a blank feeder comprising an oscillatively mounted and movable frame having a projecting post, a table mounted upon said post with provision for adjustment thereon, and counter blank holding clamps on said table.

9, In a counter molding machine a counter blank feeder comprising an oscillative frame having a projecting post, a block mounted on said post with provision for adjustment lengthwise and angularly thereon, a table pivoted to said block and adapted to turn about an axis transverse to the post, and holding clamps on said table.

l0. In a counter molding machine in combination with molding instrumentalities, a feeder adapted to transfer counter blanks from a receiving position to said instrumentalit-ies, supporting means on which said feeder is oscillatively mounted, and means for adjusting said supporting means so as to adjust the feeder into conformity with the molding instrumentalities.

ll. In a counter molding machine as set forth in claim 10 supporting means for the oscillative feeder comprising pivoted levers to which the feeder is pivoted, said levers being adjustable in a manner to cause shi't ing of the feeder pivot.

l2. In a counter molding machine ar'` Het forth in claim lO a stationary bracket. feeder supporting levers pivoted to said bracket, the feeder being pivoted to Said levers ai one side of the pivots of the latter, and zuljustinjr means connected with said levers and operable to turn them about their own piv("''.y whereby the pivot. axis of the 'feeder iff shifted.

13. In a counter molding machine an os cillative blank feeder, a notched disk idly connected to said feeder, and means for moving the feeder comprising a positivelj` driven arm mounted to turn about the axis of the feeder and a latch on said arm removably interlocked with the said notched disk.

M. In a counter molding machine including molding instrumentalities, an automatic stripper for removing the molded counters` comprising an oscillative shaft, a stripper mounted on said shaft to project laterally,v therefrom in a position causing it to travel in a path beside the position occupied hv the molding last after completion of the molding operation, and automatic mechanism' constructed and arranged to five a back and forth oscillation to' said stripicr first into a position beside the last and then into a discharging position at a distance from said last.

l5. In a counter molding machine having a stripper mechanism as set forth in claim l, the means for oscillating said stripper which comprises a pinion on the stripper shaft, a gear segment in mesh with said pinion, and cam operated mechanism con-- nected with said segment and organized to give a back and forth oscillation thereto.

1G. In a counter molding machine a stripper mechanism as set forth in claim 'il and in which the .stripper comprises a shank. a. head mounted on said shank, a tapered projection at one side of said head in a position to jass between the outer face of the molding last and the fiange of the counter at a point near the rear end of the counter. and projections on the head arranged to cxtend across the flange of the counter.

17. In a counter molding machine having complemental outer molds and ay molding last, said last being mounted with provision for tiltingforward from the plane of said molds, means for so tilting the last comprising an arm mounted beside the last and rotatable in a direction for applying forward thrustthereto, a rock shaft on which said Sai luc

llt)

arm is secured, and cam controlled mechanism connected with said rock shaft and lorganized to oscillate the same.

18. In a counter molding machine having complemental outer molds and a molding last, said last being mounted with provision for tilting forward from the plane of said molds, means for so tilting the last comprising an arm mounted beside the last and rotatable in a direction for applying forward thrust thereto, a rock shaft on which said arm is secured, and cam controlled mechanism connected wit-h said rrock shaft and organized to oscillate the same, combined with a-spring bearing against the last with a tendency to return the last to its molding position.

19. In .a counter molding machine moldingl instrumentalities comprising outer molds anud a last or inner mold, a carrier for said last to which the last is pivoted with provision for swinging forwardly from its molding position, said carrier and last haying abutting surfaces arranged to sustain the molding pressure, a spring mounted on the last carrier and bearing on the last with a tendency to hold it in its molding position and to return it to such position after displacement therefrom, and means for tilting said last forwardly against the opposition of said spring, comprising a cam, a rock shaft movable oscillatively by said cam, and an arm mounted on said rock shaft and arranged to apply forward thrust to said last when moved in one direction, and being otherwise unconnected with the last.

20. In a counter molding machine a last carrier, a lever connected to said carrier for raising and lowering the same, an operating arm for said lever, a slide pivoted to said arm and arranged to travel on said lever, a spring for returning said arm after application therethrough of molding pressure to the last, and frictional gripping means arranged to grasp said slide at the end of the return movement thereof.

2l. In a counter molding machine as set forth in claim 20, the gripping means comprising plates or brake shoes mounted on the frame of the machine at opposite sides of the slide when at one end of its travel, said shoes being adjustable to exert frictioncausing pressure on the slide.

22. A counter molding machine comprising counter molding members, a feeder for presenting counter blanks to said molding member. a crank shaft for actuating said molding members, a cam shaft for actuating said feeder, a power-receiving shaft, separate driving trains from said power shaft to the crank shaft and cam shaft respectively, separate clutching means for coupling said trains to their respective shafts, and mechanism controlled by the cam. shaft for controlling the clutching means of the crank shaft.

23. In a counter molding machine the combination with the mechanism as set forth in claim 22 of operator-controlled means for maintaining connection of the crank shaft clutch.

24. In a counter molding machine, molding members including a flange presser, a crank shaft having connections with all of said members for operating them, a feeder for the counter blanks to be molded, a stripper for removing molded counters from the molding members, a cam shaft including cams connected to operate said feeder and stripper, driving k'trains for said shafts, separate coupling means, each under the control of the operator for connecting the said shafts with their respective driving trains, and au intermediate controller operable by the cam shaft foi` exerting control over the coupling means of the crank shaft.

In testimony whereof I have afhxed my signature.

MARY A. AYER,

Administrativa of Albert E. Ayer, Deceased. 

